(Newser)
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British politicians have endured four days' worth of brutal press coverage after a newspaper published leaked parliamentary expense accounts, which include claims for everything from major home renovations to a Kit Kat bar. Gordon Brown, normally thought of as a frugal preacher's son, expensed $10,000 for cleaning—made payable to his younger brother. In an article for the Guardian, the PM's sister-in-law laments that the Browns' "tediously above board" arrangement has been blown out of proportion.

When the two Browns agreed to share a housekeeper, Gordon "was already the sort of guy who might have to change shirts twice in a day," writes his brother's wife, Clare, and a cleaning service "was part of his expenses entitlement." The Daily Telegraph went out of its way to inflate the claims—probably because "they spent a fortune" to acquire the leaked material. Sometimes you can get an apology out of the media, she reckons, "but not when covering us Browns, it seems."

You're right, of course, TerrifiedCitizen. I just wish these things wouldn't be handled by journalists as shocking exceptions to an otherwise mythically respectable norm. It gives citizens the false sense of confidence that there are no more roaches in the house, and the exterminator is doing his job. Can't we finally move on to the real business of catching all the vermin we don't see behind the walls? This just in: Companies cook their books to make a profit! --You heard it here first.

ifbit

May 11, 2009 5:40 AM CDT

The headline should read: "Public surprised that government officials waste tax payer money." Did we really need a leaked document to tell us political power is being abused?